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Microsoft Details Windows 10, Hololens at Build 2015

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Microsoft reveals more Windows 10 plans at Build 2015, such a new lock screen, a renamed Internet Explorer replacement and means for running iOS and Android apps on the OS-- even if the show was arguably stolen by an adorable HoloLens-powered robot.

Holographic WindowsOf course, Windows 10 remains the main focus of the conference, where Microsoft declared it expects to see the OS run on no less than 1 billion devices within 2 or 3 years of release. As Windows chief Terry Myerson puts it, "no other platform working in any ecosystem is available on 1 billion devices," but with free upgrades for existing Windows users, new (and old!) devices and enterprise-friendly plans, the company might just manage to reach such a total.

For the curious, Windows 8 license sales reached 200 million in around 15 months.

To reach such a number of Windows 10 licenses Microsoft has a couple of weapons up its sleeve. One of these is Continuum-- essentially a means to seamlessly switch between PCs, tablets or smartphones. As seen at Build, Continuum can even transform smartphones into near-desktop devices complete with mouse, keyboard and familiar Office apps.

Windows ContinuumContinuum also allows the use of phone-centric apps such as Messaging on PCs, meaning the feature goes both ways.

“We’re talking about one platform,” Myerson says. “A single app, a single binary that can run across all of these devices.”

Another weapon seen at Build 2015 spotlight was means for developers to turn iOS and Android apps to Windows universal apps able to run on all Windows-powered devices, without need for full rebuilding. Coders also get Visual Studio Code, essentially a cross-platform version of Visual Studio running on Mac and Linux.

As for further Windows 10 news, the browser formerly known as "Project Spartan" gets renamed as Microsoft Edge, the Start menu gets combined with live tiles functionality, Cortana is now fully integrated in the OS and a new Windows Spotlight feature turns the lock screen into a dynamic, regularly updated background complete with personalised information and fancy wallpaper.

But the one Build 2015 show stealer remains, as mentioned earlier, HoloLens, the Microsoft take on augmented reality (AR). The highlight here was B-15, a "real" Raspberry Pi-powered robot with a cute holographic (when looked at through the headset, of course) robot on top. A virtual interface allows full control of the robot, as the user stabs the air to make the robot move, change LED colours and check a variety of sensor readouts.

Other HoloLens demos had a holographic version of Windows 10, medical apps and, yes, even a virtual puppy. Of course.

Windows 10 should hit the market sometime on during the summer, with rumors pointing out a July release. No word is available as to when HoloLens will launch as a consumer product as yet.

Go Microsoft Build 2015